| The
Beijing Zoo
 The
Beijing Zoo was built in 1906 and opened to the
public in 1908 with an area of about 10 hectares
and a few humble pavilions to house the animals.
At that time only several dozens of species were
shown, such as lions, tigers, leopards and monkeys.
Now the Beijing Zoo covers an area of about 50
hectares. The animal houses and enclosures, with
a total floor space of 40,000 square metres, include
those for pandas, elephants, brown and polar bears,
tigers, hippopotami, rhinoceros, antelopes, giraffes
and reptiles. More than 6,000 animals of over
500 species are on show. Among them are giant
pandas, golden monkeys, addaxes, tigers from Northeast
China, elks, yaks, precious birds and gold fish.
Also on show are some rare animals from various
continents, such as hippopotami, zebras, giraffes.
Chimpanzees, lions and antelopes from Africa,
parrots from South America, birds and kangaroos
from Australia, polar bears from the Arctic, bison
from Europe and Asian apes.
The
Bell Tower and Drum Tower
 The
Bell Tower and Drum Tower are a group of ancient
buildings at the north end of the central axis
from south to north in the ancient capital of
Beijing.
As
the time-keeping Centre in the capital of the
Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, they bear a long
history of more than 700 years. The Drum Tower
was first built in the 9th year of Zhi Yuan Period
of the Ming Dynasty (1272), and named Qi Zheng
(Orderly Administration) Tower. (It means seven
administrations which are gold. wood. water. fire.
earth. sun and moon). Later it was burnt down
by fire. It was rebuilt in the first year of the
Da De Period under the reign of Emperor Cheng
Zong of the Yuan Dynasty (1297). It was consolidated
in the 18th year of the reign of Emperor Yong
Le of the Ming Dynasty (1420) when the Imperial
Palace was under construction. 
The
Drum Tower is 46.7 metres high. It is an arched
wooden structure with three layers of upturned
eaves, covered with grey tube shaped tiles and
edged with green glazed tiles. In the past there
were a Bronze Clepsydra, 24 drums and one main
drum on the second floor, but now only the drumhead
remains there.
The
Bell Tower, situated due north the Drum Tower,
was built in the 9th year of the Zhi Yuan period
of the Yuan Dynasty (1272). Later it was burnt
down. It was rebuilt in the 10th year of the Qian
Long period of the Qing Dynasty (1745).
The
Bell Tower stands 47.9 metres high. It is an ancient
domed, double-eave tower made of stones and bricks
covered with black glazed tiles and edged with
green glazed tiles with no beam in the building.
It appears a semi-sphere in the center of the
roof over the second floor. Under the octagonal
bell rack, there hangs a big bell which was inscribed
with " It was built on a lucky day, month
and year under the reign of Emperor Yongle"
The Bell in it is 63 tons in weight and is the
biggest ancient bell in china.
The
Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Beijing were listed
among the first batch of cultural relics under
municipal protection in 1957 and listed as a cultural
relic under state-level protection in 1996.
The
China Millennium Monument(谢坛)
 Built
to welcome new millennium, China Millennium Monument
is located in the south of Yuyuantan Park with
Military Museum in the east and CCTV in the west.
Inscription of China Millennium Monument by
General Secretary Jiang Zemin is engraved on the
front side of the monument at the south entrance
and inscriptions for China Millennium Monument
are engraved on back side of the monument. With
total area of 4.5 hectare and building area of
44,000 square meters, main body of China Millennium
Monument is comprised of immovable cloisters and
rotating monument surface, a pointer of 45 meters
pointing to the blue sky is inserted on the upper
side of the monument. It will remind you of sundial
in Palace Museum. Surface of round altar is Tianren
Square with an area of 1,700 square meters and
inclination angle of 19.4 degree, it rotates one
circle a day. It has not only a large open-air
stage for performance, but also an exhibition
hall of statues of celebrities of past dynasties,
exhibition wall for 56 nationalities and world-class
large screen projection hall.
The
Pool & Zhe Tree Temple (潭)
 The
temple is located in the southwest of Beijing,
58 km away from the city center. Its name originated
from the pool and the Zhe tree in front of the
temple. The temple boasts its long history of
1700 years. There was no city of Beijing yet when
the Temple was first built. It is also the largest
Buddhist temple in the northern part of China.
In the period of great prosperity, 3000 monks
lived in the temple. There are five major palaces
in the temple for different usage.
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